Directives for a Correct Diagnosis

A special Working Group, to study and develop standars related to Building Restoration, Rehabilitation and Maintenance, was formed in January 2001 in AENOR (Spanish Association for Codes and Standars) under the management of the Department of Building Construction of the School of Architecture of Madrid (DCTA-UPM). Three groups were organized to deal with different topics: Diagnosis, Techiques and Materials, and Maintenance. In this paper the differents topics in which the Diagnosis Subgroup is working are described: historical studies, constructive description of the building and building pathology. These will be basic to carry out a correct diagnosis of any type of building, whether it is historic or not. In the development of such topics, the recognizable architectural values are justified as they are prior to the diagnosis stage. As an example of the subgroup work, several pathology cards are shown which include: longitudinal cracks of mechanical origin in beams of concrete structures, façade closings and claddings, and general symptoms of installation services

Ensayos geomecánicos de presas en modelo reducido

Hace ya varias décadas, comenzó a aplicarse al análisis de presas el estudio experimental en modelos reducidos, campo en el que se ha trabajado durante muchos años en el Laboratorio Central. Durante este tiempo, la técnica de tales ensayos ha ido perfeccionándose, consiguiendo reproducir con mayor fidelidad la situación real, en particular, aspectos tan importantes como las posibles discontinuidades existentes en el valle así como la interacción presa-terreno de cimentación, apareciendo así, de una forma natural los ensayos geomecánicos. Como resultado de esa evolución se han llevado a cabo algunos ensayos geomecánicos de presas en dicho Laboratorio, los cuales constituyen el objeto de esta publicación

"Hormigón y Acero": una crónica de la ingeniería estructural española en los últimos 60 años

The complete history of Hormigón y Acero (Journal of the spanish technical and scientifi c association of structural concrete, Ache) is revised in this paper. The origins from issue n. 1, with a different title, as well as the reasons for its later name change and the various vicissitudes suffered during its almost 60 years of existence, are analized. All persons having collaborated through its Editorial Committee are detailed. Its role played in the chronicle of the spanish structural engineering along that period is confirmed. Specific details on its contents and on the evolution of their different sources are given.En este artículo se revisa la historia completa de Hormigón y Acero, revista de la Asociación Técnico- científica del Hormigón Estructural (Ache). Se analizan tanto su nacimiento desde el nº 1 con otro nombre y las razones de su posterior cambio de nombre al actual, como las vicisitudes sufridas durante los casi 60 años de existencia. Se detallan las personas que han colaborado en ella a través de su Comité de Redacción y se constata su papel como cronista de la ingeniería estructural española durante todo ese periodo, especificando detalles de algunos de sus contenidos y de la evolución de las fuentes de procedencia de los mismos

Aplicabilidad de la medida de la velocidad de corrosión de las armaduras en la auscultación de forjados construidos con cemento aluminoso

High alumina cementjloors constitute a especial case within the greatfield oj durability problems of KC structures. They present some characteristic problems, and share, even with greater intensity, some others which are common to Portland cement RC structures. These special characteristics should be taken into account in the assessment tasks specifically intended Jor buildings presumably constructed using high alumina cement. This paper describes the general guidelines oJ those assessments, presenting the applicability and capabilities Jor these cases of the measurement of rebar corrosión rate. Some statistical data obtained from building revisions developed by GEOCISA are also given.Dentro de los problemas generales de durabilidad que plantean las estructuras de hormigón armado, el hormigón fabricado con cemento aluminoso es un caso muy particular que presenta determinados problemas característicos, al tiempo que padece otros comunes al hormigón de cemento portland, aunque si cabe con perfiles de mayor gravedad. Estas peculiares características deben ser tenidas en cuenta al abordar campañas de auscultación específicas de los edificios en cuya construcción fue presumiblemente utilizado el cemento aluminoso. Este artículo tiene por objeto comentar las líneas generales de tal tipo de auscultaciones, presentando las posibilidades de aplicación al caso, de la técnica específica de la medida de la intensidad de corrosión de las armaduras, así como algunos resultados estadísticos obtenidos a partir de reconocimientos efectuados por el Laboratorio GEOCISA

β-Cyclodextrins as affordable antivirals to treat coronavirus infection

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic made evident that there are only a few drugs against coronavirus. Here we aimed to identify a cost-effective antiviral with broad spectrum activity and high safety profile. Starting from a list of 116 drug candidates, we used molecular modelling tools to rank the 44 most promising inhibitors. Next, we tested their efficacy as antivirals against α and β coronaviruses, such as the HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Four drugs, OSW-1, U18666A, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HβCD) and phytol, showed in vitro antiviral activity against HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2. The mechanism of action of these compounds was studied by transmission electron microscopy and by fusion assays measuring SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral entry into target cells. Entry was inhibited by HβCD and U18666A, yet only HβCD inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in the pulmonary Calu-3 cells. Compared to the other cyclodextrins, β-cyclodextrins were the most potent inhibitors, which interfered with viral fusion via cholesterol depletion. β-cyclodextrins also prevented infection in a human nasal epithelium model ex vivo and had a prophylactic effect in the nasal epithelium of hamsters in vivo. All accumulated data point to β-cyclodextrins as promising broad-spectrum antivirals against different SARS-CoV-2 variants and distant alphacoronaviruses. Given the wide use of β-cyclodextrins for drug encapsulation and their high safety profile in humans, our results support their clinical testing as prophylactic antivirals

β-Cyclodextrins as affordable antivirals to treat coronavirus infection

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic made evident that there are only a few drugs against coronavirus. Here we aimed to identify a cost-effective antiviral with broad spectrum activity and high safety profile. Starting from a list of 116 drug candidates, we used molecular modelling tools to rank the 44 most promising inhibitors. Next, we tested their efficacy as antivirals against α and β coronaviruses, such as the HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Four drugs, OSW-1, U18666A, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HβCD) and phytol, showed in vitro antiviral activity against HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2. The mechanism of action of these compounds was studied by transmission electron microscopy and by fusion assays measuring SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral entry into target cells. Entry was inhibited by HβCD and U18666A, yet only HβCD inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in the pulmonary Calu-3 cells. Compared to the other cyclodextrins, β-cyclodextrins were the most potent inhibitors, which interfered with viral fusion via cholesterol depletion. β-cyclodextrins also prevented infection in a human nasal epithelium model ex vivo and had a prophylactic effect in the nasal epithelium of hamsters in vivo. All accumulated data point to β-cyclodextrins as promising broad-spectrum antivirals against different SARS-CoV-2 variants and distant alphacoronaviruses. Given the wide use of β-cyclodextrins for drug encapsulation and their high safety profile in humans, our results support their clinical testing as prophylactic antivirals.This work has been funded by grant RTI2018-094445-B100 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (C.R.), by Palex Medical S.A., Sika S.A.U. and 7 more companies, and by Ms. Raquel Casaus Alvarez, Mr. Miguel Pardo Gil, Mr. Jacques Noguès and a total of 2916 citizens through the Precipita crowdfunding platform of Fecyt (Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología). NI-U is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant PID2020-117145RB-I00), EU HORIZON-HLTH-2021-CORONA-01 (grant 101046118) and by institutional funding of Grifols, Pharma Mar, HIPRA, Amassence and Palobiofarma. This work used the computational resources of the Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia (CESGA) supported by the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) COVID-19 Fast Track Call for Proposals – Allocation Decision – Proposal COVID19-85.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Beta-Cyclodextrins as affordable antivirals to treat coronavirus infection

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic made evident that we count with few coronavirus-fighting drugs. Here we aimed to identify a cost-effective antiviral with broad spectrum activity and high safety and tolerability profiles. We began elaborating a list of 116 drugs previously used to treat other pathologies or characterized in pre-clinical studies with potential to treat coronavirus infections. We next employed molecular modelling tools to rank the 44 most promising inhibitors and tested their efficacy as antivirals against a panel of alpha and beta coronavirus, e.g., the HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Four drugs, OSW-1, U18666A, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HbetaCD) and phytol, showed antiviral activity against both HCoV-229E (in MRC5 cells) and SARS-CoV-2 (in Vero E6 cells). The mechanism of action of these compounds was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by testing their capacity to inhibit the entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses in ACE2-expressing HEK-293T cells. The entry was inhibited by HbetaCD and U18666A, yet only HbetaCD could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in the pulmonary cells Calu-3. With these results and given that cyclodextrins are widely used for drug encapsulation and can be safely administered to humans, we further tested 6 native and modified cyclodextrins, which confirmed β-cyclodextrins as the most potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication in Calu-3 cells. All accumulated data points to beta-cyclodextrins as promising candidates to be used in the therapeutic treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and possibly other respiratory viruses.This work has been funded by grant RTI2018-094445-B100 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (C.R.), by Palex Medical S.A., Sika S.A.U. and 7 more companies, and by Ms. Raquel Casaus Alvarez, Mr. Miguel Pardo Gil, Mr. Jacques Noguès and a total of 2,916 citizens through the Precipita crowdfunding platform of Fecyt (Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología). NI-U is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant PID2020-117145RB-I00), EU HORIZON-HLTH-2021-CORONA-01 (grant 101046118) and by institutional funding of Grifols, Pharma Mar, HIPRA, Amassence and Palobiofarma. This work used the computational resources of the Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia (CESGA) supported by the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) COVID-19 Fast Track Call for Proposals – Allocation Decision – Proposal COVID19-85.N

Genetic variability of hepatitis C virus before and after combined therapy of interferon plus ribavirin

We present an analysis of the selective forces acting on two hepatitis C virus genome regions previously postulated to be involved in the viral response to combined antiviral therapy. One includes the three hypervariable regions in the envelope E2 glycoprotein, and the other encompasses the PKR binding domain and the V3 domain in the NS5A region. We used a cohort of 22 non-responder patients to combined therapy (interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin) for which samples were obtained before initiation of therapy and after 6 or/and 12 months of treatment. A range of 25-100 clones per patient, genome region and time sample were sequenced. These were used to detect general patterns of adaptation, to identify particular adaptation mechanisms and to analyze the patterns of evolutionary change in both genome regions. These analyses failed to detect a common adaptive mechanism for the lack of response to antiviral treatment in these patients. On the contrary, a wide range of situations were observed, from patients showing no positively selected sites to others with many, and with completely different topologies in the reconstructed phylogenetic trees. Altogether, these results suggest that viral strategies to evade selection pressure from the immune system and antiviral therapies do not result from a single mechanism and they are likely based on a range of different alternatives, in which several different changes, or their combination, along the HCV genome confer viruses the ability to overcome strong selective [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]